Merla M (Porter) Laug

    Merla May Porter was born July 25, 1923 to Raymond and Ella (Wehmer) Porter in Adams, Nebraska.  She was baptized in the Presbyterian Church in Adams on September 30, 1923.  At the age of 26 months, her mother passed away from double bronchial pneumonia.  Her sister Ruth was 14 months old at the time.  When Merla was 5 her father married his sister-in-law, Dena Wehmer and her aunt Dena raised their family alongside Raymond.  Merla attended grade school at Filley and rural schools in Johnson County.  She graduated from Lewiston Consolidated Schools in 1941 in the upper 10% of her class after taking normal training.  After graduation, Merla taught 6 years in rural elementary schools in Johnson County.  She was confirmed at St. Paul’s Evangelical Church (Maple Grove) on November 20, 1946 by Rev. August Boch. 

  On November 29, 1946 Merla was united in marriage to Clarence Laug at St. Paul’s Evangelical and Reformed Church (Maple Grove.) This union was blessed with five children, Joyce Eileen, Nancy Jean, Mary Jane, Lyle James and Shirley Mae.  They lived 2 ½ miles south of Vesta until they had a farm sale in 1960 and moved to Lincoln for 3 years.  In 1963 Clarence and Merla moved to the house on 2nd Street that Clarence built and in 1989 to the house on High Street that Clarence also built.  Clarence passed away August 13, 2004.  Merla continued to live in her home until her passing on October 18, 2017 at the age of 94 years. 

  Merla was a 4-H Leader for 38 years, served on 4-H Council, as a den mother for Boy Scouts and taught Sunday School at Maple Grove for 30 years.  She was a member of Extension Clubs for 49 years and county chairperson of Johnson County Extension twice and held many other offices as well in her Women’s Fellowship at Maple Grove.  Merla had served on the Board of the U.C.C. Synod of Nebraska and had been on many committees of the Nebraska Conference of the United Church of Christ and served as President of the American Legion Auxiliary in Tecumseh.  She sold Avon for over 40 years.  Merla enjoyed traveling, sewing, embroidery, canning, raising her flowers and attending her children’s and grandchildren’s activities.  In her later years, she enjoyed going to Senior Citizen’s and playing cards with her card group. 

  Merla passed away October 18, 2017 at the age of 94 years.

   She is survived her children, Joyce Sporhase and husband Roland of Steinauer, Nancy Laug-Sholin and husband Steve of Omaha, Mary Lade and husband David of Tecumseh, Lyle Laug and wife Tammy of Tecumseh and Shirley Lade and husband Ronald of Tecumseh, 11 grandchildren, Michael Lade, Chad Lade and wife Sarah, Mark Sporhase, Nathan Laug and wife Lindsay, Lance Laug, Kyle Laug,  Justin Sholin, Travis Sholin and fiancee' Stephanie Millard, Lucas Lade and wife Dezarae, Erin Robeson and Nicole Lade, 15 great-grandchildren,, Tucker Sporhase, Grace Lade, Kael Lade, Addyson Lade, Isaac Lade and Savannah Lade, William Laug, Weston Laug and Greisen Laug, McKenna Lade, Tanner Woods, Ayden Cannon, Cole Robeson, Lexi Robeson and Lane Robeson  and numerous nieces and nephews. 

  Merla was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Clarence, grand-daughter, Cari Sporhase, great-grandson, Hayden Lade and siblings, Ruth Thober, June Wilkinson and Roy Porter.                                                                                         

   Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 24, 2017 at the St. Paul’s U.C.C. (Maple Grove) rural Tecumseh, Nebraska with Rev. Eric Biehl officiating.

  Visitation will be at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska, Monday, October 23, 2017 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m.

  Memorials in lieu of flowers may go to the family’s choice.

   Interment will be in the Highland Cemetery, Adams, Nebraska at 2:30 p.m.

   Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.

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